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In Order. Plowing Ahead

October 21, 2017

by Robert McClendon

October 21, 2017. Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9:28-62.

When we read large portions of God’s word looking (listening) for teaching, instruction and/or inspiration, we sometimes end up with not just one point but an entire list of good things. We read and think, “Ooh, that is a good point.” Then we read a little farther and think, “Ooh that is also a good point.” And before you know it there is a list of good points of teaching, instruction and inspiration. Today’s passage is one of those passages. Here are a four awesome “bullet points” from today’s portion of God’s Word.

Matthew 17:5Suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

The God of the Universe, tells us that Jesus is His beloved Son, and there is one thing we are to do, “Hear Him!” Hear Him when He speaks to us as we read the Bible. Hear Him when He speaks to us in times of prayer and meditation. Of all the voices that surround us, including our own, God tells us to Hear Him!

Mark 9:23-24Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Personally, I too have cried out the words of this father. And there is nothing wrong with that, because as we see in the next few verses, Jesus did heal the child of this father, who had cried out these words. In doing so Jesus actually answered this man’s prayer for the Lord to help him with his unbelief.

Mark 9:35And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Here are two simple quotes about goals and targets. “If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” “The odds of hitting your target go up dramatically when you aim at it.” In the eyes of Jesus, to be first or the greatest (verse 34), the target to shoot for is to be a servant to all. To have the mindset of, “How can I serve this friend, family member or stranger who is standing before me?”

Luke 9:62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This final bullet point tells how to handle the first three. Having chosen to “Hear Him,” believe Him when you are struggling with unbelief or to serve all, don’t look back. Instead, each day look forward to a new opportunity to do all three of these things and then plow ahead and do them.